Today was my first 10k race; both the first one I've ever done and also the first one for my 100k challenge.
We set off from a rainy Halifax at 8:00 bound for the Staveley Stampede. The early start was so that we could stop en route to collect Grandparents to look after Bella as J booked to run this race for support, so it was a family affair.
Staveley is a beautiful little village in North Yorkshire and we were greeted with a friendly welcome at the village hall, which did a great line in buns and bacon sandwiches - not for me though (well not til the end)! So this was it my first 10k.......All I needed to do now was get round the course, try not to be last and hope for a time around 1hr 15mins based on my training.
At 11 we were off after being told that the first half mile was fine then it got a bit tricky through the nature reserve up to the end of mile 2 and that the overall course was just over 10k, 6.3 miles. That was an understatement, as the grass at times was almost waist high and given the floods that we have had in the North I wouldn't have been out of place running in my wellies! After a muddy first 2 miles, mile 3 went okay, though I was desperate to see the halfway marker and water table. At the halfway point I was faced with trepidation at running as far again, but the thought of the sponsorship for the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust kept me going. Imagine if they didn't have funds to keep the helpline that was so vital for us last year going. With that front of mind, I pressed on.
I'd been hoping for a cool drizzly day, given how the weather has been all weekend but was greeted with a little breeze in between bursts of sunshine which according to the car temp at the end of the race was as high as 19.5 degrees! All that made for a very hot and bothered 3-5 miles, with mile 4-5 having a slight incline (hubby's comment not mine!) though nothing like the hills of Halifax so bearable. It's fair to say I was super relieved to see the 5 mile marker and even tried to step up my pace a little for the last push.
As I neared the wonderful view of Staveley church I wondered what time the clock would grace me with. I'd glanced at my watch half way and thought it said about 35 mins so given I'd likely be slower second half had convinced myself that I would be lucky to achieve my hoped for 1hr 15mins. J having finished in a very respectable 50 minutes (well done) said he was most surprised (and in his words bursting with pride :)) to see me careering down the final straight to the line with a clock saying 1 hr and 8 minutes! I couldn't believe it and am really pleased with that time for the first attempt, well, very pleased and very tired.
All in all a succesfull first attempt, I did make it round, I wasn't last and the time was better than I had hoped (I joked that I'd not be doing 10 minute miles but it worked out at 10:51 a mile so not too far away). It was a lovely race to do with excellent organisation, marshalling and support and a fab BBQ afterwards.
Next up is the Huddersfield Parkrun again on Saturday to complete my 20k for June so I'll be on target. Off now to have a well needed rest a treat for tea and look to get booked on the next 10k race for July.
Oh and here's the embarrassing photos as promised!
We set off from a rainy Halifax at 8:00 bound for the Staveley Stampede. The early start was so that we could stop en route to collect Grandparents to look after Bella as J booked to run this race for support, so it was a family affair.
At 11 we were off after being told that the first half mile was fine then it got a bit tricky through the nature reserve up to the end of mile 2 and that the overall course was just over 10k, 6.3 miles. That was an understatement, as the grass at times was almost waist high and given the floods that we have had in the North I wouldn't have been out of place running in my wellies! After a muddy first 2 miles, mile 3 went okay, though I was desperate to see the halfway marker and water table. At the halfway point I was faced with trepidation at running as far again, but the thought of the sponsorship for the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust kept me going. Imagine if they didn't have funds to keep the helpline that was so vital for us last year going. With that front of mind, I pressed on.
I'd been hoping for a cool drizzly day, given how the weather has been all weekend but was greeted with a little breeze in between bursts of sunshine which according to the car temp at the end of the race was as high as 19.5 degrees! All that made for a very hot and bothered 3-5 miles, with mile 4-5 having a slight incline (hubby's comment not mine!) though nothing like the hills of Halifax so bearable. It's fair to say I was super relieved to see the 5 mile marker and even tried to step up my pace a little for the last push.
As I neared the wonderful view of Staveley church I wondered what time the clock would grace me with. I'd glanced at my watch half way and thought it said about 35 mins so given I'd likely be slower second half had convinced myself that I would be lucky to achieve my hoped for 1hr 15mins. J having finished in a very respectable 50 minutes (well done) said he was most surprised (and in his words bursting with pride :)) to see me careering down the final straight to the line with a clock saying 1 hr and 8 minutes! I couldn't believe it and am really pleased with that time for the first attempt, well, very pleased and very tired.
All in all a succesfull first attempt, I did make it round, I wasn't last and the time was better than I had hoped (I joked that I'd not be doing 10 minute miles but it worked out at 10:51 a mile so not too far away). It was a lovely race to do with excellent organisation, marshalling and support and a fab BBQ afterwards.
Next up is the Huddersfield Parkrun again on Saturday to complete my 20k for June so I'll be on target. Off now to have a well needed rest a treat for tea and look to get booked on the next 10k race for July.
Here's the official results via the link on the newsletter, (I was feeling very pleased with my time but my 71st place was a definite reminder that the 10k's will be mostly sub 1hr proper runners)!
Oh and here's the embarrassing photos as promised!
At the finish with my souvenir mug and banana! Told you I was tired!!!!!
Very good BBQ - perhaps not the best post race snack but it worked for us!
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